After the battle with Nguyen’s UN force, the Rocinante’s external damage looks minor, but three point defense cannon rounds have punched cleanly through the ship, passing near sick bay, through crew cabins, and out near the machine shop. Holden reflects on Prax’s surprising steadiness: despite Mei’s kidnapping, Ganymede’s collapse, and the recent battle, Prax simply keeps moving toward his goal and has joined Naomi and Avasarala in patching the ship from inside.

Holden, Amos, and Bobbie work on the outer hull while the surviving Martian ships drift nearby as escort. Holden briefly shares a private, wistful exchange with Naomi about the beauty of space, future generations, habitable worlds, and the unknown makers of the protomolecule, before Amos brings him back to the repair work.

Captain Richard Tseng of the MCRN Cydonia contacts Holden. Holden asks for replacement torpedoes and PDC ammunition because the Rocinante spent much of its stores in the fight, and Tseng immediately agrees. Tseng also credits the Rocinante’s first kill with breaking the UN formation, and Holden notes that Bobbie, a Martian Marine, was handling the weapons. Holden then privately requests additional Force Recon equipment as a practical gift for Bobbie.

The MCRN Sally Ride comes alongside the Rocinante for resupply. Lieutenant Graves coordinates the transfer while Bobbie and Martian sailors move torpedoes into the Rocinante’s racks, and Naomi confirms the new weapons are properly connected and operational. Holden and Amos use EVA packs to move heavy crates of PDC rounds across the gap between ships, a slow process that leaves Holden fighting an irrational fear of drifting forever into space.

Once the ammunition and supplies are secured, the Rocinante prepares for a fast burn to Io with the Martian ships behind it. In the machine shop, Holden tells Amos the extra crate is a gift for Bobbie, and Amos jokes about Alex possibly having feelings for her. As thrust gravity returns, Holden takes stock of their position: the Rocinante is repaired, rearmed, escorted by Martian warships, and carrying dangerous allies, so the next step is to find the enemy and give them someone else to fight.